Jaafar Jackson Joins Will Smith in David Gordon Green's Action Thriller ‘Supermax’

Published 08/03/2026, 5:17 PM EDT

Credits: Universal Pictures

Jaafar Jackson has sent the entire world into a tizzy with a billion-dollar debut with Michael - a feat that no actor has ever achieved- and this was not just a fluke or a lucky break. This success came on the heels of a formidable performance that saw the first-time actor wear the skin of his uncle, Michael Jackson, and not just look like him but also sound and behave like the legendary King of Pop. Now, when an actor has a box office pull like this established from the first movie onwards, and the talent to back it up, what studio would not want to hire him in their next project?  

Just like that, Jaafar Jackson has bagged another big studio production alongside Will Smith.

Jaafar Jackson set to share screen space with Will Smith in Supermax

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Jaafar Jackson has found his next big role in Supermax, an action thriller from Amazon MGM Studios and Miramax, following his breakthrough performance in his late uncle's biopic, Michael, which went on to gross over $1 billion and became Lionsgate's biggest film of the year, per Deadline. Jackson joins AnnaSophia Robb and Will Smith, who were previously confirmed. 

Although the specifics of his part are being kept secret, it is rumored to be crucial to the main plot of the movie, which centers on two FBI agents (Smith & Robb) looking into an apparently impossible murder that takes place inside the impregnable walls of a maximum-security prison. David Weil and David J. Rosen wrote the script, which David Gordon Green is directing. 

via Imago

Will Smith and Adam Fishbach are producing for Westbrook Studios with the help of The Picture Company partners Andrew Rona and Alex Heineman. Associate producer Natalie Laine Williams will co-executive produce with scribes Weil and Rosen. Along with James Lassiter and Miguel Melendez for Westbrook Studios, Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman, President of Film Alexandra Loewy, COO Thom Zadra, and SVP Spencer Ela will also serve as executive producers, according to the Deadline report.

29-Year-Old Jaafar Jackson Makes History as the First Lead Actor to Debut With a $1 Billion Film

Jaafar Jackson stormed the doors to Hollywood with a single performance, and he is just warming up the engine for many more.

Jaafar Jackson's career ahead of the phenomenal debut

Jaafar Jackson won praise from critics for his revolutionary portrayal of the King of Pop in Antoine Fuqua's Michael, which is currently the highest-grossing biopic of all time, surpassing Oppenheimer and Bohemian Rhapsody. The credit for the film's success goes to the young actor, as he was tasked with a deeply personal role, playing his legendary uncle Michael Jackson, which is not as easy as it sounds. There were layers in his performance representing each stage in his life that reflected his character growth.

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Supermax is just the beginning for the actor, as there will be more projects offered to him by big production houses, trying to ride on his wave of success. Furthermore, there is a sequel to the blockbuster biopic in the works that aims to tell the artist’s story beyond the ‘80s. There is so much to look forward to from this young powerhouse.   

Former Michael Jackson Actor Jason Weaver Raves About Jaafar Jackson's 'Michael' Role

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Are you excited for Jaafar Jackson’s next venture in Supermax with Will Smith? Do let us know. 

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Harshit Kumar

641 articles

With nearly two years of experience in content writing, primarily in sports, Harshit has now ventured into the alluring alleys of Hollywood at NetflixJunkie. A true pop-culture fanatic and a certified cheat code for movie trivia night, he brings infectious enthusiasm to every conversation. He has strong opinions about everything from uplifting superhero spectacles to gripping psychological crime dramas, and he is never shy about backing them up.

Edited By: Hriddhi Maitra

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